Michael Owen has ignited a debate by confidently asserting that he was a superior player to Wayne Rooney during their teenage years. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker made the bold claim in response to a social media post by BBC Sport's Match of the Day, which posed the question: "Who was the better player at the age of 17, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?".

Owen didn't hold back in his reply, citing his goal-scoring record and individual accolades as evidence. "At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d'Or), Wazza scored 9," Owen stated. He further highlighted his early dominance, adding, "In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn't outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd youngest Ballon d'Or winner ever".

While acknowledging Rooney's overall achievements, Owen attributed his own decline to injuries, suggesting that Rooney's sustained level of performance ultimately led to him being considered the better player. "Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he'll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please..." Owen concluded.

Both Owen and Rooney burst onto the scene as teenage sensations, representing Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton, respectively. Owen made his Liverpool debut at 17 in May 1997, scoring in a 2-1 defeat against Wimbledon. Rooney debuted for Everton at 16 in August 2002 and scored his first league goal at 17 in a 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

Owen's early career was marked by exceptional goal-scoring prowess. He consistently found the net for Liverpool and earned the Ballon d'Or in 2001 at the age of 22. He also scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England. Rooney, meanwhile, became Manchester United's all-time record goalscorer with 253 goals and also held the England record with 53 goals until Harry Kane surpassed him. He won five Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester United.

The debate over who was better at 17 has divided fans and pundits alike. While Owen's statistics during his teenage years are impressive, some argue that Rooney was a more complete player, even at a young age. Some fans feel that Rooney's style of play was more exciting to watch. Despite Owen's achievements, many believe that Rooney had a better overall career.

Ultimately, the question of who was the better player at 17 is subjective. Owen's goal-scoring record is undeniable, but Rooney's all-around game and later success cannot be ignored. The comparison highlights the different trajectories of two of England's most celebrated strikers.